For the past several days, he had mentally rehearsed the arrival of either the Jiang Family’s Patriarch or Elder Jian Dian countless times.
However, when it actually happened, it was completely different.
He was completely stunned!
’Aren’t the legends true? Doesn’t Elder Jian Dian cherish her Closed-door Disciple like a precious treasure?’
’Now her disciple has died a horrible death, yet she’s so... calm?’
This abnormal behavior made Zhang Heming feel extremely uneasy.
’Could it be? Did she not fall for it? Was my entire scheme all for nothing in the end?’
He spent a day wrapped in such self-doubt.
A tense atmosphere once again enveloped the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office.
The Jiang Family Patriarch, Jiang Hongyi, arrived personally, leading a large group of elite men.
Bracing himself, Zhang Heming welcomed Jiang Hongyi into the secondary hall and briefly explained the situation.
Jiang Hongyi’s expression was grim. He first ordered an accompanying Guest skilled in examining injuries to inspect the bodies of Jiang Chaoshan and Snow Fairy.
Before long, the Guest returned and whispered a secret report in Jiang Hongyi’s ear: "Reporting to the Patriarch, there are trace amounts of a sedative drug remaining in Snow Fairy’s body. But... there are no traces of this drug in the young master’s body."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Hongyi’s pupils contracted sharply.
’A sedative drug?’
’Could it really be as Zhang Heming implied? Did that degenerate son of mine, Chaoshan, get lustful ideas and resort to such despicable methods?’
A wave of fury mixed with grief, shame, and doubt rushed to his head, and his face instantly turned ashen.
He suppressed his rage and asked about the whereabouts of the other fallen Guests and Tributors.
Zhang Heming said with a pained expression, "Mr. Jiang, the deaths of so many Spirit Realm cultivators are beyond the investigative capacity of my small county. The Jingwu Bureau has taken over the case, and all evidence has been transferred to them. As for the bodies of your esteemed son and Snow Fairy, it was only after my repeated pleas that they were temporarily allowed to remain here."
’The Jingwu Bureau!’
Jiang Hongyi snorted coldly, clearly displeased with how Zhang Heming had handled the matter.
Just then, a Jiang Family confidant, holding a slip of paper, stumbled into the hall. "Patriarch! This is bad! An urgent message by blood pigeon!"
Jiang Hongyi’s expression changed drastically. He snatched the slip of paper and saw a line of small, hastily scrawled words.
"Jian Dian Mo Wenqiu has attacked the mansion; the family is decimated."
"MO! WEN! QIU!"
Jiang Hongyi’s eyes looked ready to split from their sockets. His years of practiced Qi Cultivation vanished in an instant as he tilted his head back and let out a roar like that of a wild beast.
"I, Jiang Hongyi, will not rest until one of us is dead!"
The rolling sound, filled with bone-deep hatred and boundless rage, made the entire County Magistrate’s Office tremble.
...
「Liyang Commandery City, East District.」
The Zhou Mansion.
Chen Shouheng reined in his horse, stopping before an imposing and austere mansion.
Looking up, he saw vermilion-lacquered gates at least ten feet high, flanked by two majestic and lifelike stone lions. The plaque hanging high above the lintel, bearing the words "Zhou Mansion," was of a dark, gilded lacquer, exuding a sense of weight and dignity accumulated over many years.
The grandeur of the entrance alone was far beyond what any wealthy household in Jingshan County could compare to.
He dismounted, smoothing out the slightly wrinkled robes from his long journey.
He presented a formal calling card to the gatekeeper on duty.
Soon, a gaunt-faced, shrewd-eyed middle-aged man walked out. His words were polite yet measured, "Might you be Young Master Chen? The Patriarch has been informed. Please follow me."
"I’m in your hands, then."
Chen Shouheng clasped his hands in a return salute and followed the Steward. He stepped over the high threshold and entered the deep, sprawling compound of seven courtyards.
Once inside the mansion, the view opened up dramatically.
A bluestone path, clean enough to have been washed, snaked its way into the depths of the estate.
Pavilions and storied buildings were arranged in a picturesque layout along the path, with upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters of the utmost exquisiteness.
Rockeries and ponds were interspersed throughout, and the air was fragrant with the scent of rare flowers and exotic plants.
The servants and maids moving about were all neatly dressed and walked with light steps. Upon seeing a guest, they would lower their heads, avert their eyes, step aside to make way, and bow in greeting, their movements as precise as if measured by a ruler.
The serving maids were all fair and lovely. With their demure, downcast eyes, they possessed a charm far beyond that of any coarse country maidservant.
’This is the true bearing of a Noble Family,’ Chen Shouheng took it all in and sighed to himself. ’Such profound heritage isn’t built in a day.’
’My own family’s properties are considered decent in Mirror Mountain, but compared to this Zhou Mansion, the gap is immediately apparent.’
Composing his Heart Spirit, he passed through several ceremonial gates and skirted along a covered walkway. The air grew increasingly tranquil.
Finally, the Steward led him to an even more secluded, independent courtyard.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Pushing it open, he found the scene before him changed once again.
The courtyard was not large, but it was arranged with extreme delicacy and elegance.
There was a small, shallow fishpond, a rugged rockery made of Taihu stones to one side, and an ancient, gnarled bonsai tree.
It was so quiet it seemed to be cut off from all the clamor of the outside world.
"The Patriarch is in the courtyard. Young Master Chen, please proceed." The Steward stopped at the courtyard entrance, bowed, and then quietly withdrew.
Chen Shouheng steadied himself and walked in slowly.
In the shade of a tree in the courtyard, a pear-wood lounge chair had been set up, upon which a woman was reclining lazily.
She wore a sky-blue dress of soft, gossamer silk. Her cloud-like hair was slightly loose, with a jade hairpin tucked into it at an angle. She was nibbling on a delicate pastry from the small table beside her, chewing slowly.
In her other hand, she held a scroll, which she was reading with rapt attention.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a soft halo around her. It illuminated her jade-like profile, her relaxed expression suffused with a feline laziness and preciousness.
Chen Shouheng did not dare to be disrespectful. He took a few steps forward and, from a slight distance, bowed with clasped hands. "Chen Shouheng of Lingxi greets Patriarch Zhou. I apologize for this presumptuous visit and for disturbing your peace."
Zhou Shuwei seemed to finally pull her attention away from the scroll, slowly raising her eyes.
She had a pair of exceptionally beautiful phoenix eyes. As her gaze shifted, it carried a hint of scrutiny and a touch of nonchalance, yet it possessed an undeniable air of authority.
She set down the scroll, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. Her voice was soft and sweet, yet clear. "Young Master Chen, there is no need for such ceremony. Sit."
She pointed to a nearby stone stool.
"Thank you, Patriarch." Chen Shouheng sat down as instructed, his back ramrod straight.
He took a carefully wrapped object from his robes and presented it with both hands. "Regarding the previous matter in Mirror Mountain, it was thanks to the Zhou Family’s assistance in coordinating the Jingwu Bureau’s intervention. My father specially ordered me to deliver this item to express our gratitude."
The object in his hand was the Jingwu Bureau Merit Order that his younger brother, Chen Shouye, had obtained in Ping County last year.
Zhou Shuwei had stated bluntly that while the Zhou Family had people in the Jingwu Bureau, they were from a side branch, so it wasn’t convenient for her to issue orders directly.
If they wanted help, it would depend on what benefits the Chen Family could offer to persuade that person.
Chen Li had immediately thought of the Merit Order his second son, Shouye, had brought back.
And the other party had agreed.
Zhou Shuwei extended her slender fingers, picked up the Token, glanced at it casually, and then placed it on the small table.
She picked up a small, exquisite, and uniquely shaped lotus pastry, offering it to Chen Shouheng with a beaming smile. "Have a taste. The chefs in the mansion are decent enough."
Chen Shouheng was slightly taken aback and quickly said, "I have already eaten. Thank you for your kind offer, Patriarch."
Hearing this, Zhou Shuwei rolled her eyes at him. "What, you think the pastries of my Zhou Family are unclean?"
As she spoke, not only did she not withdraw her hand, but she leaned forward slightly, bringing the pastry directly to Chen Shouheng’s lips.
Her fingertips almost brushed his lips, and a faint, sweet fragrance wafted over him.